Looking into Acumatica or evaluating other ERP Systems? Businesses often end up with weak software solutions in ERP and other areas, and all too often they accept this state of affairs rather than working to correct it. Often it can feel very cumbersome to be tasked with evaluating and selecting a new platform for your business. Often different products become very confusing trying to outline differences. A new system can be costly, as so much scrutiny is given to the selection process and final decision. Deciding on the wrong ERP system will effect your business in major ways. It's a big deal!
Fortunately, this doesn't mean putting together a team to program new software solutions from the ground up, nor does it mean giving up on the convenience of a widely-adopted ERP solution compatible with your other business software. Here are the steps you should consider to optimize ERP performance.
1. Add additional enhancement software created for your specific business needs
While it's possible to build or rebuild ERP software solutions to meet your custom needs, it's usually far easier to work with enhancement software to bring your needs in line with the software's capabilities. This allows you to minimize costs and retain all the integration and coordination inherent to a mature ERP software solution, while also giving you the optimized, personalized tools you need to thrive. IIG creates custom ERP software solutions for both Acumatica and Sage 100 ERP systems.
Remember to have a checklist in mind when evaluating an ERP, as well as, the various ISV solutions that will help drive your business forward!
• Productivity: How will it increase your productivity? • Functionality: What features does it offer? • Technology: How does it leverage technology? • Value: How does the product’s lifetime cost compare to what you’re getting? • Risk: How does it minimize risk and facilitate security?
2. Hire custom programmers certified in Acumatica ERP
If enhancement software isn't available that meets your needs, then you'll need to go a step further for effective customization. That means finding ERP specialists for Acumatica who can turn your needs into a functional design for custom ERP software enhancement.
This could be done as a one-off project with a certified third-party specialist firm or with certified independent contractors in many cases, though companies with more flexible software considerations may want to hire or contract ERP specialists long-term for ongoing ERP custom programming. Ideally, you'll be working with a mainstream ERP solution—this will make it far easier to find a qualified specialist for the job.
3. Consult with a company that specializes in your Industry
This is also an area where experience counts for as much as or more than specific technical expertise. A company with a decade or more of experience with a software solution and its close predecessors will be far better equipped to offer insight into the enhancements that will make your business thrive, when compared to a company late come to a particular family of software solutions.
Knowledge of your industry or of businesses with similar models to your own will also help immensely, though not as much as specific knowledge of the ERP suite you're utilizing. For this reason, it's important that you think carefully and communicate consistently with the company you're consulting with, to ensure they have the fullest possible picture of what you need, what you'd like, and what other software you'll be working with.
Invest the resources into optimizing your ERP to the way you do business; your company will save significantly by minimizing wasted time, inaccurate or non-actionable assessments, and other headaches inherent to working with pure off-the-shelf solutions. Depending on your software needs and company size, this may mean nursing an in-house team to handle the day to day adjustments, outsourcing everything to an effective third-party ERP solutions provider, or leveraging consultants for something in between. To learn more or for any questions you may have, email IIG directly at salesinfo@iigservices.com.
